XL, a provider of connected vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets, announced that Tacoma and Clark Public Utilities in Washington as well as the City of Palo Alto, Calif., are the latest West Coast municipalities and utilities to electrify portions of their fleets with XL-equipped vehicles.

Municipalities and utilities along the U.S. West Coast have been among the most active in the nation in reducing the environmental impact of their fleet vehicles to meet state, city, and organization-wide emissions reductions targets.

For example, Washington’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels by 2035. Additionally, California’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% to reach 1990 levels by 2030, advancing the state’s leadership in clean transportation. These three fleets are working to meet their strict emissions reduction targets by deploying plug-in hybrid and hybrid (HEV) electrification systems from XL.

"Our utility and city environmental plan calls for upgrading public and utility fleets with electrified vehicles and reducing fossil fuel usage, which aligns with our commitment to a green environment. Since XL provides plug-in hybrids in a pickup truck format, the 33% reduction in fuel and improved brake life makes for great ROI all in one package to help meet our environmental plan goals," said Don Ashmore, fleet manager for Tacoma Public Utility. 

All three fleets are in the process of deploying multiple XL plug-in hybrid electric Ford F-150 pickup trucks, the first and only PHEV F-150 on the road today. Tacoma Public Utility is also adding several of XL’s hybrid electric units, including XL hybrid-equipped Ford Transits and Ford F-250 trucks.  

“We’ve worked for years to reduce vehicle emissions across our fleet while maintaining performance and controlling costs. We run hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles in our light duty vehicles where they fit in to work practices, but the XL plug-in hybrid Ford F-150s are the first plug-in electric trucks in our Operations fleet. They are large enough to carry crews, have the four-wheel drive capability needed in rough terrain, and offer substantial efficiencies such as fuel savings and lower maintenance costs," said Paul Chamberlain, fleet services manager of Clark Public Utilities.

According to XL, the fleets can expect to increase the mpg of their plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) Ford F-150 pickup trucks by up to 50% and reduce CO2 emissions by one-third when compared to their standard gasoline-powered vehicles.

"Greenhouse gas emission reduction has been a city goal for many years, and we do that in part by replacing vehicles with cleaner versions over the course of their normal life cycles. We also need to provide the city’s fleet with reliable equipment that won’t have any problems if left unplugged.  The city anticipates that XL’s electrification technology will both reduce emissions, as well as costs, so it’s a benefit for all," said Raul Juarez, fleet manager for the City of Palo Alto.